New water development district may not get much support

MIDLAND

Proposal backed by Brown County

February 01, 2012|BY SCOTT WALTMAN, swaltman@aberdeennews.com

A proposal that would create a new water development district in northeast South Dakota might not garner much support among state legislators, Brown County Commissioner Burt Elliott told his fellow commissioners during Tuesday's meeting.

The measure, Senate Bill 160, would essentially split the James River Water Development District. Sen. Al Novstrup, R-Aberdeen, is its prime sponsor. Several other local lawmakers are co-sponsors.

Elliott, a former legislator, said the bill might not make much headway in Pierre. It does have the support, though, of Brown County commissioners, who previously approved a letter of support for the idea.

The bill has been referred to the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee. The new water district it would create would include Brown, Marshall and Spink counties. It would also allow a board of directors to be established and allow for continued property taxing authority to fund drainage projects within the district.

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In other action Tuesday, the commission:

&middotApproved a letter of support for a bill introduced in the Legislature - House Bill 1250 - that would allow counties and townships the power to levy a property tax to better fund road and bridge improvements.

The revenue would be put into a capital improvement fund. It would allow counties to levy $1 per $1,000 in taxable value and townships to levy 50 cents per $1,000 in taxable value.

&middotAccepted a bid from B&B Contracting of Aberdeen to remove a closed bridge over the James River at Tacoma Park. The work will cost roughly $18,000, said Jan Weismantel, highway superintendent.

After the bridge is removed from the river, highway department workers will have to cut the structure and remove it from the site. Weismantel said somebody wants to buy the bridge's steel railings. The cost would be determined by current steel prices.

&middotAgreed to pay for at least a portion of the cost of steel-toed boots for highway department workers. Weismantel said the highway department can be fined if, for instance, workers don't wear steel-toed boots in gravel pits.

The amount to be allotted for a pair of boots was not determined during the meeting. Weismantel suggested the county help pay for one pair per department employee per year. She estimated doing so would cost the county $2,500 a year.

Mike Scott, landfill manager, said the landfill pays for steel-toed boots for landfill employees. A pair of steel-toed boots can cost $175 or so, he said.

&middotSet a bid date of Feb. 21 to buy gravel and hot mix to be used this year by the highway department.

&middotSet a bid date of March 6 for the rental of equipment to be used this year by the highway department.

&middotSet Feb. 21 as a bid date for chemicals to be used this year by the Weed and Pest Department.

&middotApproved the purchase of culverts for the highway department from Huron Culvert off a Beadle County bid.

&middotLearned from Scott that the landfill will spend $5,000 to buy a used fire truck from Federal Surplus Property. It will be the landfill's fourth fire-fighting vehicle, he said.

&middotMet in closed session to discuss personnel matters and litigation.